horizontal
adjective
hor·i·zon·tal
ˌhȯr-ə-ˈzän-tᵊl 
ˌhär-
1
2
: relating to, directed toward, or consisting of individuals or entities of similar status or on the same level
horizontal mergers
horizontal hostility
3
medical
: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by physical contact or proximity in contrast with inheritance
horizontal transmission of the hepatitis B virus
Genes are normally inherited from parents, but they can also be inserted into a genome by viruses, plasmids, and other foreign agents—a phenomenon called horizontal transfer.—
Stephan Reebs
compare vertical sense 4
Stephan Reebs
horizontal
noun
Examples of horizontal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rogers argues that Asana’s horizontal footprint within companies—where it is already embedded across marketing, IT, operations, and planning in large enterprises—gives it a natural coordination role that larger rivals cannot easily replicate.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 May 2026
But the newsmagazine’s current social and digital strategy feels stale and way too horizontal to Weiss and her inner circle.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
Pairing the horizontal slats on a teakwood frame with vertical cabana stripes is a lesson in modernity, and the Crate & Barrel Batten collection gets an A+.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
Vertical seismic forces are transferred directly to the foundation via pier supports and cable stays, while longitudinal and lateral horizontal forces are absorbed and dissipated using specialized hydraulic dampers, friction pendulum bearings, and synthetic rubber pads.
—New Atlas, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horizontal
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Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 May 2026
But the newsmagazine’s current social and digital strategy feels stale and way too horizontal to Weiss and her inner circle.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
Pairing the horizontal slats on a teakwood frame with vertical cabana stripes is a lesson in modernity, and the Crate & Barrel Batten collection gets an A+.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
Vertical seismic forces are transferred directly to the foundation via pier supports and cable stays, while longitudinal and lateral horizontal forces are absorbed and dissipated using specialized hydraulic dampers, friction pendulum bearings, and synthetic rubber pads.
—New Atlas, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horizontal
Cite this Entry
“Horizontal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horizontal. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
horizontal
adjective
hor·i·zon·tal
ˌhȯr-ə-ˈzänt-ᵊl, ˌhär-
1
: relating to or being a transverse plane or section of the body
2
a
: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by physical contact or proximity in contrast with inheritance compare vertical
b
: of or relating to horizontal gene transfer
Legal Definition
horizontal
adjective
hor·i·zon·tal
ˌhȯr-ə-ˈzän-təl, ˌhär-
: relating to, directed toward, or consisting of individuals or entities of similar status or on the same level
horizontally
adverb
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